Results 41,921-41,940 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres (6 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Policies (6 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by Department officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (6 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (6 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Qualifications (6 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Officials in my Department have been in touch with CORU on this matter and I understand that CORU will contact you on the issues raised and will also liaise directly with the applicants concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Executive (6 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (6 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: The Government is committed to the development by the HSE of a well-governed and patient-centred health care service for adults and children in the transgender community, in line with the Programme for Government. The HSE National Quality and Patient Safety Directorate has reviewed the interim Cass report and how it applies to clinical pathways in Ireland. The Department welcomed this...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (6 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (6 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (6 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (6 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. In relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (6 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: The Government is committed to providing accessible and affordable health care. The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of medical and surgical aids and appliances, free of charge to eligible persons following assessment by a relevant health professional. The Department of Social Protection administer the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) Scheme and the Fuel Allowance,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. This is an issue she and I have been involved with in the past. We once faced a situation where constituents were telling me, and no doubt were telling her too, that from Wicklow town, through Greystones and to Bray, they were unable to access a GP, whether as a private patient or a general medical services, GMS, patient. It is an issue around the country and is worse...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy and fully agree with the sentiment that these are valued and essential healthcare workers in our system. It is why in the lifetime of this Government we have had an unprecedented increase in management and administrative grades. The Deputy will be aware that the management and administrative workforce has gone from 18,000 to 24,000 in the lifetime of this Government. We...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. We are aware there are many groups representing victims and many Members of this House, including the Deputy, have called for the Government to initiate this interstate case on the Northern Ireland legacy Act before the European Court of Human Rights. The Government has received legal advice on the matter from the Attorney General and is considering next steps. We are...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I take that point.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I share his sentiments in respect of these awful situations where parents have lost babies. I am unaware of the correspondence from Safe Births Ireland but I would be happy to look at it and revert to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I will leave the rock analogies or allusions to Deputy McNamara but as he will appreciate, I do not have the detail he seeks. I am very happy to take the issue up with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and will ask him to revert to the Deputy directly on the question he has raised.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: It is something we have to keep under constant review for the very reasons the Deputy has outlined. We have substantially reduced the cost of healthcare right across the board. Approximately 1.6 million people now have GP or GMS cards. For the first time ever, over half of our population is entitled to free GP care. However, as the Deputy rightly points out, notwithstanding increases in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Dec 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: The short answer is "Yes". The Deputy will be aware that a painstakingly slow process must be gone through for hospitals. We are in the middle of that process for the national maternity hospital and are dealing with it to some extent for the elective hospitals. To try to deal with this, we have got agreement from the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform to reduce the...